Table of Contents


| Table Of Contents | Last Chapter | Next Chapter | Instructions | Abstract | Section One | Section Two | Section Three |

Title Page

Abstract

Acknowledgements


Section One - Weaving Narrative Nets to Capture Science Classrooms

Chapter One - Research Questions and Contexts

Introduction - Telling Tales Out Of School

Professional Context

Personal Context

School Context

Research Questions

Introduction to the Research Methodology

Outline of the Structure of this Thesis

Section One: Chapters One to Four

Section Two: 'School Stories'

Section Three: Chapters Five and Six

Appendices

Summary


Chapter Two - Expectations and Constraints: Backgrounding the First ResearchQuestion

Introduction - My Experience

Constraints to Teacher Change

Congruence of Teacher Conceptions and Classroom Practices

Summary


Chapter Three - Constructivism and the Nature of Science: Teaching, Research and theSecond Research Question

Introduction - Knowledge

The Many Forms of Constructivism

Teachers' Understandings of the Nature of Science

Paul Feyerabend and Epistemological Anarchy

Peter Taylor and Critical Constructivism

Jack Whitehead and Living Educational Theory

Frederick Steier and Reflexivity

David Geelan and Value-Driven Eclecticism

Logic

Dialectic

Rhetoric

Summary


Chapter Four - Places to Stand, Ways to Look: Approaches and Methods and the ThirdResearch Question

Introduction - Standing and Looking (Back)

Max Van Manen: Hermeneutic Phenomenological Inquiry and PedagogicalThoughtfulness

Jean Clandinin and Michael Connelly: Narratives of Experience

John Van Maanen: Impressionist Tales and the Third Moment of Ethnography

Verisimilitude, Representation and Legitimation

Synthesis? - The Research Methods of This Study

Summary


Section Two - School Stories

Cast of Characters

Prologue: Farewells

On the first day...

Teachers

Violence and Love

The Aggressive Uses of Irony

Trusting Tony

Depression, Incest and the Nature of Science

Divers Alarums

Happy Endings?

Talking to Carolyn

Of Nurture and Curriculum

Goodbye, Farewell and Amen


Section Three - Representing and Reflecting on My Understandings

Chapter Five - Tales of Different Kinds: Representing My Understandings

Introduction - Results?

Narrative Nets

Conclusion


Chapter Six - The Real World?

Introduction - The Real World?

Digression - Pseudonyms

Conjectures

Conclusion


Chapter Seven - Love and Life, Teaching and Learning: Conclusions, Implications andNew Questions

Introduction - The Learning Journey

Critical Reflection - Vices and Virtues

Implications for My Teaching/Learning/Research Practice

Reforms are difficult

Students are central

Love is the answer

Stories are powerful

Invitation - Who Will Join Me?

Conclusion - Places to Begin


Bibliography

Appendix One: Voyage to Centauri

Appendix Two: Instruments and Data - CLES and BASSSQ

Appendix Three: Teacher Interviews

Interview with 'Candace James'

Interview with 'Andrea King'

Interview with 'Alyx Nilssen'

Interview with 'Carolyn Young'

Appendix Four: Evolution of the Thesis


Figure One - Graphic representation of facets of the first research question

Figure Two - Comparing teacher responses on the 'perceived' form of the Constructivist LearningEnvironment Survey (CLES)

Figure Three - Comparing teacher responses on the 'preferred' form of the Constructivist LearningEnvironment Survey (CLES)

Figure Four - Comparing teacher responses on the Beliefs About Science and School ScienceQuestionnaire (BASSSQ)

Figure Five - Comparing student responses on the 'perceived' form of the Constructivist LearningEnvironment Survey (CLES)

Figure Six - Comparing student responses on the 'preferred' form of the Constructivist LearningEnvironment Survey (CLES)

Figure Seven - Comparing student responses on the Beliefs About Science and School ScienceQuestionnaire (BASSSQ)

Figure Eight - Constructivist Learning Environment Survey, perceived and preferred forms, CarolynYoung and class, November 1996

Figure Nine - Beliefs About Science and School Science Questionnaire (BASSSQ), Carolyn Youngand class, November 1996

Figure Ten - Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES), perceived and preferred forms,Andrea King and class, November 1996

Figure Eleven - Beliefs About Science and School Science Questionnaire (BASSSQ), Andrea Kingand class, November 1996

Figure Twelve - Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES), perceived and preferredforms, Candace James, November 1997, and class, November 1996

Figure Thirteen - Beliefs About Science and School Science Questionnaire (BASSSQ), CandaceJames, November 1997, and class, November 1996

Figure Fourteen - Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES), perceived and preferredforms, Alyx Nilssen, November 1997, and class, November 1996

Figure Fifteen - Beliefs About Science and School Science Questionnaire (BASSSQ), Alyx Nilssen,November 1997, and class, November 1996


Table One - Facets of the first research question

Table Two - Scales of the Constructivist Learning Environment Survey (CLES)

Table Three - Scales of the Beliefs About Science and School Science Questionnaire (BASSSQ)

Table Four - Result Summary, CLES and BASSSQ, all classes and teachers


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This thesis is ©1998, David R. Geelan. You are very welcome to read it and to print it out for personal use. Any other use requires permission. You can contact me at: bravus@innocent.com.